Compare the2021 Kia SportageVS 2021 Jeep Renegade

The Sportage’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Renegade doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage and the Renegade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Jeep Renegade:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Jeep Renegade:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 108 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Renegade last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Renegade’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Jeep covers the Renegade. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Renegade ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sportage has a standard 600-amp battery. The Renegade’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 62 points higher than the Renegade.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Renegade isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 11th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 41 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 17 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Sportage has more powerful engines than the Renegade:

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Jeep Renegade:

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage FWD with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Renegade FWD with its standard engine (23 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Renegade with the 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Renegade (16.4 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sportage SX Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Renegade:

The Sportage stops much shorter than the Renegade:

For better traction, the Sportage has larger standard tires than the Renegade (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R16). The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Renegade (245/45R19 vs. 235/45R19).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Renegade’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage LX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Renegade.

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Renegade’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Renegade (105.1 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Renegade.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Renegade Latitude 4x4 pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Renegade Trailhawk 4x4 (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Renegade Trailhawk 4x4’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.3 feet). The Sportage’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Renegade’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The design of the Kia Sportage amounts to more than styling. The Sportage has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Renegade (.35 to .37) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sportage get better fuel mileage.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Sportage LX/S/EX has standard flush composite headlights. The Renegade has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Sportage has .3 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room and 3.1 inches more rear legroom than the Renegade.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage’s rear seats recline. The Renegade’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Renegade with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Renegade with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 50.8 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s cargo area is larger than the Renegade’s in almost every dimension:

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage EX/SX Turbo’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sportage’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Renegade doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Renegade’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Renegade doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Renegade doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Renegade’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Sportage has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Renegade only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except S/LX) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Renegade doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Sportage and the Renegade offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Renegade doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sportage (except LX) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Renegade doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $470 less than the Renegade over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Renegade because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sportage than the Renegade, including $29 less for a water pump, $160 less for front brake pads, $534 less for a starter, $68 less for a fuel pump, $246 less for front struts and $20 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Kia Sportage outsold the Jeep Renegade by 32% during the 2020 model year.